The bill seeks to strengthen the primary care system in Massachusetts by establishing a comprehensive framework for defining, measuring, and reporting primary care spending. It designates the Massachusetts Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA) as the agency responsible for developing a transparent methodology for measuring primary care expenditures, which will include a designated list of primary care services and provider types. The bill mandates that CHIA publicly post its methodology and conduct annual reviews to ensure its relevance and accuracy. Additionally, it proposes the creation of a Primary Care Technical Advisory Body to provide ongoing guidance on data specifications and reporting, emphasizing the importance of annual reporting on primary care spending trends to set future spending targets.

Moreover, the bill introduces new reporting requirements for payers regarding expenditures related to Primary Care and Behavioral Health (PCBH) services, including the categorization of claims and non-claims-based payments. It specifies guidelines for reporting expenditures by physician groups and mandates that payers ensure the reported data pertains only to Massachusetts residents. The bill also includes new definitions and categories for various non-claims payments, such as shared savings and capitation, and emphasizes accurate reporting of mental health and substance use disorder diagnoses. Overall, the legislation aims to enhance transparency and accountability in healthcare reporting, ensuring that data is accurately categorized and reflective of the services provided, ultimately improving access and delivery of primary care in Massachusetts.